The Asus ROG Phone 9 with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is a performance powerhouse, but it can't match other $1,000 phones in ways that matter.

Over the years, Asus has carved a niche catering to mobile gamers with its ROG smartphone line, focusing on things you won't find in phones from the big dogs. That includes a second USB-C charging port for landscape mode so the cable won't get in the way while gaming.

I booted up the game Mortal Kombat Mobile on the new Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, and the tutorial that led me into Scorpion pulling off a Fatality against Sub-Zero shows the fiery character slicing through his opponent's skull like butter.

ASUS has launched the ROG Phone 9 and 9 Pro, and the Pro model lets you play games on the rear lighting system.

You can even play games on the ROG Phone 9 Pro's back with its backlighting and Air Triggers. It also has a headphone jack.

A bigger battery and new chipset allows the ROG Phone 9 Pro to take the dual titles of most powerful and longest-lasting phone we've ever had the honor of testing. It's designed to be a great gaming phone,

The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro is one of the first phones sporting a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, but is it worth the upgrade?

Even if you're the most hardcore gaming fan out there, chances are you don't own one of the best gaming phones on the market. It's a massively niche sector, with very few players remaining in the game.